Department of Sociology & Criminology

Department of Sociology & Criminology

Welcome to Sociology and Criminology!

Students in Sociology and Criminology can expect to develop the insights of the sociological perspective as they become familiar with continuing research and theoretical analysis of the social world. They learn how to better understand the structures and patterns upon which everyday life rests, to understand the interplay between individual choices and social constraint, to interpret events from multiple perspectives, and to examine social arrangements critically. They learn how to make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.

Work with Leading Faculty

We are a small, active faculty who publish award-winning monographs as well as articles in the top journals of our field. We are committed to the public good and our scholarship is used to inform national and local policy debate.

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Recent Events:

Lecture by Dr. Pedro Noguera

Pedro Noguera, PhD, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education at New York University and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, presented a lecture on September 29th entitled, "Challenging Racial Disparities in School Discipline Outcomes: Best Practices for Educators, Parents, and the Community." The event was co-sponsored by Denver Public Schools Division of Student Services, DU Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Research Incubator for the Study of (In)Equality (IRISE) at DU, Morgridge College of Education, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University College, DU Department of Sociology and Criminology; Gender and Women’s Studies Program, Padres y Jovenes Unidos, and the Denver Classroom Teachers’ Association. View event flyer.

Paul Colomy wins Driscoll Award

Paul Colomy, Professor, recently won the William T. Driscoll Master Educator Award for 2014. The award commemorates the outstanding teaching style of Dr. William T. Driscoll (former Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences) and honors Paul's continuance of Driscoll's legacy of educational excellence. Paul received his award at the Pioneer All University Awards Ceremony at Newman Center for the Performing Arts on May 8th.

Seniors participate in Undergraduate Research Symposium

Joe Dingle, Monica Heilman, Rudy Diaz, Josh Stout, Kayla Frazee, and Hannah Koschnitzke (pictured at right, along with Jennifer Reich, former Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Research Center), participated in the Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 7th. The symposium recognizes and honors undergraduate research. All six students are completing senior theses for "Distinction in the Major" this quarter.